XN000022-1997-04-23 — Page 78

- 61.

Non-development clearances on track

Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the involvement of the clearance units under the Housing Department in the squatter area non-development clearance programmes is only confined to rehousing affected residents. The clearance units will inform the District Lands Office to proceed with the demolition of the squatter huts concerned after the affected residents have moved out. However, I have received a number of complaints from the residents in squatter areas accusing the departments concerned of failing to demolish the squatter huts promptly after the affected residents have moved out, thus allowing undesirable elements to occupy the vacant huts illegally, and this has caused nuisance to the residents nearby. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether the Lands Department has any plan to rectify the above situation; if so, what the details are; if not, why not?

Reply:

Mr President,

The vacated structures mentioned in the Question are squatter huts affected by Category II non-development clearances, i.e. the squatter huts are not subject to immediate and obvious slope danger. We do not compulsorily clear the squatters concerned. In practice, although the Administration encourages the squatters to leave for their own safety, they move out at their own pace, and hence the clearance often spans a number of years. We are aware of the problem of squatter huts left unattended after the squatters have moved out. In the last financial year, we spent about $1 million on the demolition of such structures. In the current financial year, we will step up our demolition work by spending about $8 million for this purpose. Departments concerned also patrol the areas to prevent re-occupation of vacant squatter structures or new squatting,

End